Sky-High Veterans! Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will characterize the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights.

 

Social Studies Focus:

veterans

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, opinion writing, character traits, creative writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

daring, patriotic, experts, cooperate

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.10 read informational texts; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions; W.2.1 opinion writing

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile level: 

510L

Download TEKS Standards

Provide students with some background on veterans.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Thank You, Veterans!" After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is a veteran?

 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured terms are daring, patriotic, experts, and cooperate.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Ask students if they would like to do a job like the person on the cover.
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how the Golden Knights make people feel.” Encourage students to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • With the Make a Poster game, students identify nonfiction text features and create their own Veterans Day poster to save or print.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here's how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words daring, patriotic, experts, and cooperate.

Editor’s Pick: Character Traits/Opinion Writing (15 min.)

  • The What It Takes to Take to the Skies skill sheet asks students to think about the characteristics of a Golden Knight and support their ideas with additional information.

ELA Focus: Creative Writing (15 min.)

  • Use the Imagination in Flight skill sheet to have students imagine what Golden Knights might experience when they jump from a plane.

Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on veterans:

  • Good Job, Veterans!, November/December 2020. This issue explores various jobs in the armed forces.
  • High-Flying Veterans, November/December 2018. This issue tells the story of the WASPs—the brave women who became pilots during World War II.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 630L
  • Lower Lexile level: 470L